now a professor of education at Florida Atlantic University, was for many years the superintendent of Thornton Township High Schools and president of Thornton Junior College, Harvey, Illinois."The goal of universal education beyond the high school is no more utopian than the goal of full citizenship for all Americans." THE PUBLIC school system of the United States reflects the growth and development of the nation. Our earliest schools had their models in the nations that gave America her colonists. However, it did not require much time for those early citizens to recognize that the European system was not compatible with the spirit of a frontier people. Education for the few was not appropriate to a society that believed fiercely in a new concept of freedom. A government of, by, and for the people demanded an intelligent citizenry. In this setting, our educational system began.Elementary education became universal. Our first secondary schools were grammar schools and they prepared their pupils for college. By the middle of the nineteenth century academies flourished. One of their chief purposes was to provide vocational training. While they were co-educational, they were not always free. By the end of the century high schools had replaced academies. They charged no tuition, they were co-educational, and they tended to be comprehensive. The eight-four plan became the accepted pattern. 'I'he twentieth century has seen extension, modification, and diversification of this plan.The junior college came into being in the 20th century. This development of a two-year program of study beyond high school has been a major contributor to the American dream for education: &dquo;All youth shall have the opportunity to secure an education that is compatible with their hopes, their aspirations, and their abilities.&dquo;
A few years ago, I was invited by a state principals' professional journal to contribute an article. I thought a long time before choosing a topic, and when I finally did, I called it "Building the 'Our School' Concept." The article turned out to be very important for me because it sums up my general educational philosophy. To me, the ideal school system is one that has the "our school" concept.In such an institution, the students are certain that the administration and the members of the faculty are more interested in them as people than they are in the subject matter. It is the kind of school system in which students return on the Friday after Thanksgiving to participate in school activities-and do it of their own free will. A school district in which this actually happens is comprised of faculty members with excellent interpersonal relationships. They have respect for their administrator, and he, in turn, involves them in the decision-making process. They value one another, not only as professional people, but as human beings. There is a spirit of friendliness and helpfulness, and an unusually responsible attitude toward professional improvement. It is also a school system in which the
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